Archive for September, 2006

From Nani, Perle De Sagasse, comes a new blog in French. La Foi est la perle qui se forme dans la coquille du coeur. » The Faith is the pearl that is formed in the shell of the heart.

dubietytolight, the Ashley who describes her brunch with Baha’is in the following post, has started a blog just for her religious questions, A Spiritual Quandary. She invites the Baha’is especially to offer their thoughts on the questions she poses, somewhat reminiscent of a blog previously featured on Baha’i Views, T-Mac’s Questions and Answers about the Baha’i Faith. -gw

So, yes, this morning I went to a Baha’i brunch. And it was awkward, to say the least, since I was virtually the only non-baha’i there, but they were as accomodating as they could be. More than accomodating, actually. The secretary and I talked for a long time about Psychology since she is also majoring in that, and I spoke briefly with a girl named Sonya, a freshman here who has already made herself at home with these people. The best part was the very long talk I had with a woman named Stephanie, who does not go to Columbia, was just visiting the Nancy, the president of the club. She was amazing, she listened to all my concerns, she actually pulled a Baha’i prayer book and something called The Seven Valleys out of her purse and told me to keep them. She was all around wonderful to me. She also sent me an essay her brother wrote on why the Baha’i faith is not a cult for me to show to my roommates. I gave her the link to my new blog too. I have a feeling she’ll be understanding of all my concerns because she says it took her eight years to convert to the faith. Eight years! So, that actually really made me more at ease.

I did tell them a little about Mana, but not much. They all shared their sympathies, but admitted that death is an unusual way to learn about the faith. But only one girl was even partially Persian, and she said she might cook some Persian food sometime. That would be nice. Oh, and Sonya, the Freshman, and I might be putting together a weekly study circle, that another girl, the half-persian who is also a Barnard alum would tutor, although they asked if I could bring some friends to it, and honestly, my friends will want nothing to do with this, so that just isn’t going to happen. But there were also NYU Baha’is there and we might network the study circle with them. Too soon to tell.

I’m writing all of this from the library where I *should* be catching up on my work. But anyway, this is all very exciting and confusing and disorienting for me all at once. I felt really out of place, yet something still felt right. How can you feel both things at the same time? I don’t know.

My studies call to me. I don’t know where all this will head. But I have a good feeling about it.

Ashley, “The University Baha’is,” O Look How She Listens

On Naw Ruz, March 21st, I posted an entry that included an excerpt about a lovely new baby named Mona. Mona is now six months old, as the blog in her name reports. Wow, how time flies both for babies and bloggers. Mona’s mother reflects on the birthing experience. -gw

One thing that I was very touched by and will always, always remember is the fact that so many people from around the world (people that I don’t even know personally were praying for me on the early morning I gave birth. I have heard stories of how a wonderful Baha’i lady in Morocco (who is an online friend of my dad’s) was praying all night long for me and the baby! Family and friends in the Holy Land (Haifa, Israel), in Canada, Malaysia, USA, Mauritius, France, Chilli, Iran, just to mention a few, were praying for me! I sincerely believe that was reason why my birthing experience was so quick and without any pain!!

Sabby, LIFE WITH MONA: When a child is born, a mother is born!

My son Taraz is getting married this weekend. He and his bride Megan are in my thoughts and prayers. Here is a post from one of Taraz’s blogs on world peace.

Kelly took a silly quiz and was surprised. -gw

Current mood: crazy

Current music: I Tunes on random but currently Godsmack

I really need to work on my Sunday School lesson. It’s on the light-hearted subject of Theology. I find myself, however, thinking more about Spirituality today. I like taking silly quizzes online because they usually don’t surprise me. (Although, one quiz I took suggested that my beliefs resembled those who practice the Baha’i faith).

Kelly (onedrunkcat) wrote,@ 2006-09-09 18:40:00

Blogger Bass-I-Am, a.k.a. bjbass, is a bass player. He is not a Baha’i but has contact with Baha’is through an interfaith choir he is in. -gw

Yesterday was the OHF lunchtime performance for the Interfaith Mission Service workshop. There were only two other groups: a children’s choir, Rick’s “praise band” which consisted of Rick, his son Ben, and Me, and OHF.

Rick and Ben and I opened the show. At the last minute, they had asked that we not do “Jesus songs” since the group really has grown into being interfaith. I haven’t played this stuff much with Rick lately, so I had gone over some of the old praise-band repertoire we used to do, but we didn’t do it. We did songs like Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, pop songs that work in the (interfaith) praise environment. I was playing my 5-string, which I shouldn’t do for music I’m rusty on, because I don’t play it enough and sometimes the notes are just in the wrong places. But it went OK.

OHF is not a Baha’i choir — although people keep calling us that — but it did grow out of the Baha’i tradition. Our group is about half Baha’i. The Unity Prayer is based on Baha’i scripture (”Oh my God oh my God, unite the hearts of thy servants…”). Baha’is believe that all religions are legitimate, and that they should strive to work together. That’s why this song was particularly appropriate for the IMS workshop.

Bass-I-Am, “Singing and Playing at the IMS Workshop,” BJ Bass

Blogger’s bio:

I spent most of my life in Wisconsin and Michigan, and found myself living in the south about a decade ago. I have degrees in physics and atmosperic science. I work for an Army contractor, building computer models of smoke and atmospehric effects.

In my spare time, I’m a bass player. I play upright and electric in a wedding band (jazz and retro rock), a big band (Ellington to Setzer), a community orchestra, musicals, and the occasional opera. I also sing (not very well) in a gospel choir.

{Re-posted with permission}

I got an invitation to consider being a guest on “The Narrow Mind” radio show today. While I was honored to be asked, I felt I needed to decline. Interfaith dialogue is valuable, but adversarial debate doesn’t bring humanity closer together.

I’ve been reflecting a lot about teaching the Faith lately. Here are a few excerpts from the Baha’i Writings on the subject. -gw

We should never insist on teaching those who are not really ready for the Cause. If a man is not hungry, you cannot make him eat. — Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny

You should exercise your judgement and tact in delivering the message. You should make an effort to understand the character and mind of the seeker before you speak to him on the Cause. — Shoghi Effendi, Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand

The Bahá’í will, however, on no account force his ideas on those who do not wish to hear them. He will attract people to the Kingdom of God, not try to drive them into it. He will be like the good shepherd who leads his flock, and charms the sheep by his music, rather than like the one who, from behind, urges them on with dog and stick.

Bahá’u’lláh says in the Hidden Words:—
O Son of Dust!The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing, even as the cup-bearer, who proffereth not his cup till he findeth a seeker, and the lover who crieth not out from the depths of his heart until he gazeth upon the beauty of his beloved. Wherefore sow the seeds of wisdom and knowledge in the pure soil of the heart, and keep them hidden, till the hyacinths of divine wisdom spring from the heart and not from mire and clay.

Again He says, in the Tablet of Ishráqát:—
O people of Bahá! Ye are the dawning-places of the Love and daysprings of the Favor of God. Defile not your tongues with cursing or execrating anyone, and guard your eyes from that which is not worthy. Show forth that which ye possess (i.e. Truth). If it be accepted, the aim is attained. If not, to rebuke or interfere with him who rejects is vain. Leave him to himself, and advance towards God, the Protector, the Self-Subsistent. Be not the cause of sorrow, how much less of sedition and strife! It is hoped that ye may be nurtured in the shade of the tree of Divine Bounty and act as God has willed for you. Ye are all leaves of one tree and drops of one sea.

J. E. Esslemont, “Teaching,” Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era

“Crystal Blue Persuasion”

(Tommy James and The Shondells)

Lyric:
Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a’rising
Most definitely
A new day is coming
People are changing
Ain’t it beautiful
Crystal blue persuasion
Better get ready
To see the light
Love, love is the answer
And that’s all right
So don’t you give up now
So easy to find
Just look to your soul
Open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion
Mmm, mmm-mmm
It’s a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion
Crystal… blue persuasion
Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
On every green field
And every town
All of his children
And every nation
They’ll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion
Yeah
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha

This song is a blast from the past, at least for someone my age, as it dates back to the late 60’s. There are Baha’i songs and there are “Baha’i” songs, and all have a usefulness for conveying the spirit of the Faith. This is one of a multitude of songs that moves me spiritually and may be of use in teaching the Baha’i Faith when incorporated into the Baha’i practices of devotional meetings, children’s classes, and study circles. -gw

Another new blog that leaps out from the computer screen with brilliant visual splendor is Living in Harmony. The blogger’s current post incorporates into a quiz quotes from various religious traditions on the subjects of “progressive revelation, the only way, salvation, foregivness of sins, everlasting life, the unity of God, God the Unknowable, [and] the quest for peace.” Check it out here. -gw